Electric bed

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is an electric bed, which includes: a base bed frame, which is horizontally disposed; at least one adjustable sub-frame, which is rotatably connected to the base bed frame and is rotatable between a horizontal position and a lifting position; a drive device, which is capable of driving the at least one adjustable sub-frame to rotate; and a plurality of bed planks, which are independent from each other and include at least one fixed bed plank and at least one adjustable bed plank. The electric bed further includes a plurality of quick assembly devices disposed on the base bed frame and the adjustable sub-frame for connecting the fixed bed plank to the base bed frame and fixing the adjustable bed plank to the adjustable sub-frame.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a Continuation Application of PCT ApplicationNo. PCT/CN2017/091203 filed on Jun. 30, 2017, which claims the benefitof Chinese Patent Application No. 201610785625.2 filed on Aug. 31, 2016.All the above are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE TECHNOLOGY

The present application relates to a bed, and in particular, to anelectric bed.

BACKGROUND OF THE TECHNOLOGY

With the gradual improvement of people's living standards, people arepaying more and more attention to sleep quality. Accordingly, beds forensuring and improving sleep quality, especially adjustable beds, inparticular electric beds driven by a drive device such as an electricmotor, have been greatly developed in recent years.

Adjustable beds and electric beds derived from medical beds have notbeen used as sleeping beds for the general public over the years due totheir defects such as complicated structure, expensive construction costand appearance unsuitable for household use. With the development oftechnologies and optimization of design, electric beds having arelatively simple structure have been designed in the market. Such anelectric bed has the following features, including:

a base bed frame, which is arranged horizontally;

at least one adjustable sub-frame, which is rotatably connected to thebase bed frame and can rotate between a horizontal position and alifting position;

a drive device, which is capable of driving the at least one adjustablesub-frame to rotate; and

a plurality of bed planks, which are independent of each other, whereinthe plurality of bed planks include at least one fixed bed plank and atleast one adjustable bed plank, and are connected with each other byhinges and then are fixed to the base bed frame and the adjustablesub-frame.

The electric bed has a relatively simple structure, and it can provide abasic function of lifting a bed plank. However, such an electric bed isgenerally assembled and packaged in whole in the factory in advance, andthen is transported to a customer. During this process, packaging andtransporting, in particular for multinational shipping, require that apackage of the bed body be as small as possible, so that it is easy toload the bed into a container and that it is convenient to put the bedinto an ordinary elevator for transportation when the bed is carried tothe customer. However, the present electric bed assembled in whole inthe factory in advance cannot well satisfy these requirements. Moreover,if the package of the bed assembled in whole is too large, sometransportation companies, for example, the UPS, may refuse to transportthe package, and extra labor and lifting machine are needed because thepackage cannot be moved to the customer through an ordinary elevator.These all lead to an increase of a final use cost for the customer, andreduce satisfaction of user experience as well.

SUMMARY

The present application aims to overcome one or more defects asdescribed in the background technology.

For the above objective, the present application provides an electricbed, which is implemented through the following technical solutions.

An electric bed is provided, which includes:

a base bed frame, which is horizontally disposed;

at least one adjustable sub-frame, which is rotatably connected to thebase bed frame and is rotatable between a horizontal position and alifting position;

a drive device, which is capable of driving the at least one adjustablesub-frame to rotate; and

a plurality of bed planks, which are independent from each other andinclude at least one fixed bed plank and at least one adjustable bedplank,

wherein the electric bed further includes a plurality of quick assemblydevices disposed on the base bed frame and the adjustable sub-frame forconnecting the fixed bed plank to the base bed frame and fixing theadjustable bed plank to the adjustable sub-frame.

By such an arrangement, the bed planks and the bed frame can be packagedand transported separately. Moreover, the electric bed can be assembledin a simple manner, and there is no need to assemble the electric bed inwhole in advance by using professional techniques in the factory. Inthis way, by packaging and transporting separately, transportationefficiency can be greatly improved, and the transportation cost can begreatly reduced so as to further reduce the use cost of a user. Inaddition, since a quick-assemble structure is provided, there is no needto assemble the bed planks and the bed frames by a professional workerin a professional factory. An ordinary user can perform the assemblingconveniently by himself and experience the DIY fun, which can improvethe user experience of the user.

In different embodiments of the electric bed according to the presentapplication, we may depend on one and/or more of the followingconfigurations.

Optionally, the quick assembly devices are groove-shaped members havinga groove shape complementary to a shape of an edge of the plurality ofbed planks for fixing the plurality of bed planks in the groove-shapedmembers. For example, the groove has a cross-section in a C-shape whichis complementary to a shape of an edge of the bed plank, so that theedge of the bed plank can be inserted into the groove for fixation. Bysuch an arrangement, the bed planks can be quickly fitted into the quickassembly device, so to quickly connect to the base bed frame.

Further, the groove-shaped members are provided thereon with mountingholes so to facilitate passage of auxiliary mounting elements into theplurality of bed planks. By such an arrangement, it can be furtherensured that the bed planks can be firmly fixed in the quick assemblydevices. An example of the auxiliary mounting elements is bolts.

Optionally, the base bed frame and the at least one adjustable sub-frameeach are provided thereon with a drive device fixation element forconnecting the drive device.

Further, the drive device fixation element is a lug piece which isprovided thereon with fixation holes for fixing an end of the drivedevice by, for example, a pin or a spring clip.

Optionally, the electric bed includes two adjustable sub-frames,specifically a head frame and a leg frame. The head frame and the legframe are separated by the at least one fixed bed plank disposed in amiddle of the base bed frame and are capable of rotating and lifting inopposite directions. In this way, a lifting movement of the head bedplank and the leg bed plank can be provided, so that a corresponding bedplank movement mode can be provided to a customer.

Further, the electric bed further includes another fixed bed plankdisposed at an end of the base bed frame away from the head frame and isconfigured to be fixed relative to the base bed frame or to flip withthe leg frame by the quick assembly devices.

Optionally, the plurality of bed planks are wooden boards or compositeboards on which grainy paper is attached.

Optionally, the drive device is a pushrod motor.

By means of the above arrangements, with same functions of a traditionalelectric bed, the electric bed of the present application has featuresof convenient transportation and simple assembling, which can reducetransportation cost, improve transportation efficiency and improve userexperience.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

It shall be appreciated that in the present application, unless apparentcontradictions or incompatibility exist, all the features, variations,and/or specific embodiments may be combined with one another in a numberof ways.

Other features and advantages of the present application will becomeself-evident by reading the following specifically describednonrestrictive embodiments in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings. In the drawings,

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a bed in whole after assemblyaccording to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of components of the bed in wholeaccording to an embodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3 shows an enlarged perspective view of a quick assembly deviceaccording to an embodiment of the present application; and

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged perspective view of a drive device fixationelement according to an embodiment of the present application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It shall be appreciated that the abovementioned drawings are not drawnto actual scale, and they are merely diagrams of various preferredfeatures for illustrating principles of the present application. Thedesign features, such as size, directions, orientations, and shapesdisclosed in the present application depend on specific applications andusing environments.

The present application will be illustrated in detail below inconjunction with the embodiments and the accompanying drawings. In thesedrawings, same reference numerals indicate the same or equivalentcomponents of the present application.

FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the present application. An electric bedshown in FIG. 1 includes: a base bed frame 2; adjustable sub-frames 31and 32; a plurality of bed planks 11, 12, 13, and 14; and a drive device6.

Specifically, the base bed frame 2 includes two longitudinally extendingstrip-shaped longitudinal members 22 and two transversely extendingstrip-shaped transverse members 21, which are bonded with each other,for example, through welding, riveting or other connecting techniques,so as to form a substantially rectangular frame having a plane P thatmay be horizontally positioned. Four corners of the rectangular frameare respectively provided with a bed foot 20 which is perpendicular to aplane where the rectangular frame is located or forms an angle of lessthan 90 degrees with the plane. Optionally, as shown in FIG. 2, the bedfoot 20 can also be formed together with the transverse member 21 in onepiece for the convenience of production.

Further, the base bed frame 2 further includes two intermediatetransverse members 23 and 23′, and two intermediate longitudinal members24 and 24′. The intermediate transverse members 23 and 23′ are arrangedparallel to each other, and are perpendicularly connected to thelongitudinal members 22 in the plane P of the frame, for example,through connecting techniques such as welding and riveting. Theintermediate longitudinal members 24 and 24′ are arranged parallel toeach other, and are perpendicularly connected to the intermediatetransverse members 23 and 23′ in the plane P of the frame, for example,through connecting techniques such as welding and riveting. Further, theintermediate transverse members 23 and 23′ and the intermediatelongitudinal members 24 and 24′ are substantially disposed in a middleposition of the frame, and a function thereof will be described in thefollowing text.

The adjustable sub-frame includes a head frame 31 and a leg frame 32which are substantially in a shape of a rectangular frame. A side of thehead frame 31 and a side of the leg frame 32 are rotatably connected tothe base bed frame at joints respectively close to the intermediatetransverse members 23 and 23′. The head frame 31 and the leg frame 32can rotate between a horizontal position and a lifting position. In thehorizontal position, the head frame 31 and the leg frame 32 aresubstantially parallel to each other and are located in the plane P oreach are deviated upwardly by a small amount. In the lifting position, aside of the head frame 31 and a side of leg frame 32 are lifted and eachform a certain degree, for example, a degree in a range of 0-60 degrees,with the plane P.

The drive device, such as pushrod motors 61 and 62 as shown in FIGS. 1and 2 are respectively rotatably connected to the two intermediatelongitudinal members 24 and 24′ and the adjustable sub-frames 31 and 32of the base bed frame 2 through drive device fixation elements, such aslug pieces 51, 52, 53 and 54, at two ends thereof. By means of such anarrangement, a telescopic action of a pushrod of the pushrod motor candrive the adjustable sub-frames 31 and 32 to rotate, so that the lattercan rotate between the horizontal position and the lifting position.

Further, the drive device fixation element, for example, the lug pieces51, 52, 53 and 54 as shown in FIG. 4, is a rigid fixation plate which issubstantially in a triangular shape. A side of the drive device fixationelement is fixed on the base bed frame or the adjustable sub-framethrough a screw nut, welding, riveting or the like. A vertex opposite tothe fixed side is provided with a fixation hole through which an end ofthe pushrod motor is rotatably connected, for example, in the form of apin or a spring clip.

The electric bed further includes a plurality of quick assembly deviceswhich are respectively disposed on the base bed frame 2 and theadjustable sub-frames. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a quick assemblydevice 40 is disposed on a rotation axis of the adjustable sub-frame 31,and a quick assembly device 43 is disposed on a rotation axis of theadjustable sub-frame 32. Quick assembly devices 41 and 42 are disposedon the transverse members 23 and 23′ of the base bed frame 2.

As shown in FIG. 1, four independent bed planks, i.e., a head bed plank11, a waist bed plank 12, a leg bed plank 13, and a foot bed plank 14,are provided. Optionally, these bed planks are wooden boards orcomposite boards on which grainy paper is attached. The head bed plank11 is placed on the adjustable sub-frame 31, and is connected thereto bythe quick assembly device 40, so that the head bed plank 11 may rotatewith the adjustable sub-frame 31. Similarly, the leg bed plank 13 isplaced on the adjustable sub-frame 32, and is connected thereto by thequick assembly device 40, so that the leg bed plank 13 may rotate withthe adjustable sub-frame 32. The waist bed plank 12 is connected to thequick assembly devices 41 and 42, so that the waist bed plank 12 may befixed on the transverse members 23 and 23′ and thus are not movablerelative to the base bed frame 2. The foot bed plank 14 may be disposedin two ways. A first disposition manner is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Anend of the foot bed plank 14 is rotatably connected to the leg bed plank13 by additional quick assembly devices 44 and 45, while the other endof the foot bed plank 14 is connected to a rotation element 50 which isconnected to the base bed frame. Under this disposition, rotation of theleg bed plank 13 can drive the foot bed plank 14 to flip. A seconddisposition manner is not shown in the drawings. In the seconddisposition, the foot bed plank 14 is fixed on the base bed frame 2 byadditional quick assembly devices 44 and 45, for example, in the samefixation connection manner as that between the waist bed plank 12 andthe base bed frame 2. Under this disposition, rotation of the leg bedplank 13 does not drive the foot bed plank 14 to flip.

It needs to be pointed out that these independent bed planks may bepackaged and transported separately from the bed frames so that theelectric bed can be delivered to a customer in smaller packages, and thecustomer can assemble the electric bed by himself. The quick assemblydevices related in assembling the electric bed will be described indetail below.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the quick assembly device can be, forexample, a groove-shaped member having a groove shape complementary to ashape of an edge of the plurality of bed planks, so that the pluralityof bed planks can be fixed in the groove-shaped member. In theillustrated example, the groove has a cross-section in a C-shape, whichis configured to be complementary to a cross-sectional shape of the edgeof the bed planks. The groove-shaped member has a bottom surface and twoside surfaces which are substantially parallel to each other andperpendicular to the bottom surface, wherein free edges of the two sidesurfaces are configured to be close to each other, so that when a bedplank is inserted into this groove, i.e., when an edge of the bed plankcontacts and rests against the bottom surface of the groove-shapedmember, the two side surfaces of the groove have a securing force forclamping the bed plank so as to quickly fix the bed plank in thegroove-shaped member.

Preferably, an entire length of the groove-shaped member is at leasthalf of a length of a corresponding edge of a bed plank. Moreover, awidth of the bottom surface of the groove-shaped member is slightlylarger than a thickness of a corresponding bed plank. A width of the twoside surfaces of the groove-shaped member is larger than the width ofthe bottom surface, preferably more than 1.5 times the width of thebottom surface so as to provide a better clamping effect.

Optionally, as shown in FIG. 3, the groove-shaped member is providedthereon with mounting holes 48, for example, two mounting holes 48respectively located at ends of the groove-shaped member so tofacilitate passage of auxiliary mounting elements into the plurality ofbed planks. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, the auxiliary mountingelements are bolts 49. When a bed plank is inserted into the groove, thebolts 49 are threaded into the mounting holes 48 and through across-section of the bed plank so as to achieve a better fixationeffect.

Optionally, the quick assembly device can also be in other forms, aslong as a structure thereof allows a user to easily and convenientlyconnect the bed planks to the bed frames without the need ofprofessional installation tools or techniques.

In addition, preferably, two adjacent quick assembly devices as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, for example, the quick assembly device of the head bedplank and the quick assembly device of the waist bed plank, and thequick assembly device of the leg bed plank and the quick assembly deviceof the foot bed plank, may be rotatably connected to each other. Asshown in FIG. 3, the groove-shaped member may further include connectionparts 46, for example, projecting connection plates, on which connectionholes are provided, and, at the same time, an opposite groove-shapedmember connected thereto is provided with corresponding connection partsas well, so that the two adjacent quick assembly devices can berotatably connected to each other by the connection parts. Further, theconnection parts may be directly connected to the base bed frame 2 toform a rotation axis of the adjustable sub-frame so as to reduce thenumber of components of the electric bed and reduce volume and weight offittings.

The above embodiments serve only as examples and are not used to limitthe scope of the present application. Those skilled persons in the artmay expect other embodiments capable of achieving same functions basedon the above embodiments and within the protection scope of the presentapplication.

Those skilled in the art may master different embodiments, variations,and improvements. In particular, it shall be noted that unless apparentcontradictions or incompatibility exist, the above features, variations,and/or specific embodiments of the present application may be combinedwith one another. All these embodiments, variations, and improvementsshall fall within the scope of the present application.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electric bed, comprising: a base bed frame,which is horizontally disposed; at least one adjustable sub-frame, whichis rotatably connected to the base bed frame and is rotatable between ahorizontal position and a lifting position; a drive device, which iscapable of driving the at least one adjustable sub-frame to rotate; anda plurality of bed planks, which are independent from each other andinclude at least one fixed bed plank and at least one adjustable bedplank, wherein the electric bed further comprises a plurality of quickassembly devices disposed on the base bed frame and the adjustablesub-frame for connecting the fixed bed plank to the base bed frame andfixing the adjustable bed plank to the adjustable sub-frame.
 2. Theelectric bed according to claim 1, wherein the quick assembly devicesare groove-shaped members having a groove shape complementary to a shapeof an edge of each of the plurality of bed planks for fixing theplurality of bed planks in the groove-shaped members.
 3. The electricbed according to claim 2, wherein the groove-shaped members are providedthereon with mounting holes for auxiliary mounting elements to threadtherethrough and into the plurality of bed planks.
 4. The electric bedaccording to claim 3, wherein the auxiliary mounting elements are bolts.5. The electric bed according to claim 1, wherein the base bed frame andthe at least one adjustable sub-frame each are provided thereon with adrive device fixation element for connecting the drive device.
 6. Theelectric bed according to claim 5, wherein the drive device fixationelement is a lug piece that is provided thereon with a fixation hole forfixing an end of the drive device.
 7. The electric bed according toclaim 1, comprising two adjustable sub-frames including a head frame anda leg frame, the head frame and the leg frame being separated by the atleast one fixed bed plank disposed in a middle of the base bed frame andbeing capable of rotating and lifting in opposite directions.
 8. Theelectric bed according to claim 7, further comprising a foot bed plankdisposed at an end of the base bed frame, the foot bed plank being awayfrom the head frame and being configured to be fixed relative to thebase bed frame or to flip with the leg frame by the quick assemblydevices.
 9. The electric bed according to claim 1, wherein the pluralityof bed planks are wooden boards or composite boards on which grainypaper is attached.
 10. The electric bed according to claim 1, whereinthe drive device is a pushrod motor.